Objectives: Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is WNT/b-catenin pathway antagonist which plays a detrimental role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This research aimed to assess serum DKK-1 levels in diabetic patients who have and have not developed DR and, compare them with the control subjects finding out whether we can use it as an indicator for DR early diagnosis and to find out which one of the widely used two groups of antidiabetic treatments had the greater effect on this biomarker and hence on the progression of DR. Methods: The study participants were divided into two subgroups: First, 70 patients (36 male, 34 female) with type 2 diabetes mellitus, among them 35 patients diagnosed with DR and 35 with no evidence of DR, and secondly, non-diabetic controls (11 male, 9 female) were selected from the patients attending Ibn AL-Haitham hospital for ophthalmology and a specialized center for endocrinology and diabetes. Venous blood samples of all participants were drawn after an overnight fast, and serum samples were stored at -20ºC until DKK-1 assay. Results: Serum DKK-1 showed significantly lower levels in diabetic patients with (6.1 ± 2 ng/mL) or without DR (14 ± 6.2 ng/mL) when compared to those of controls (34 ± 12.25 ng/mL) (p 0.05). Furthermore, serum DKK-1 levels were lower in the late stage of DR compared to the early stage 5.6 ± 1.7 and 7 ± 1.9 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, DPP-4 inhibitors cause a better increment in DKK-1 levels when compared to SU in the NDR group. Conclusions: Reduced serum levels of DKK-1 are related to the existence and worsening of DR and have the prospect to serve as an indicator for this condition.
Background: The menopause is physiological changes in women that give rise to adaptive changes at both systemic and oral level. During menopause, ovarian function declines and the production of sex steroid hormones reduces significantly affecting the oral tissues and periodontal structures leading to chronic inflammation of the gingiva, increased risk of tooth loss. Aim of study: The present study was designed to estimate the oral hygiene status in relation to salivary estradiol level among pre and post-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: Ninety women aged 48-52 years old, the control group consisted of 45 pre-menopausal women and the study group consisted of 45 post-menopause were examined for gingival index, plaque index and calcu
... Show MoreActivation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) markedly attenuates development of atherosclerosis in animal models. However, the underlying mechanism is not well elucidated. Here, we show that the FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), increases fecal cholesterol excretion and macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) dependent on activation of hepatic FXR. OCA does not increase biliary cholesterol secretion, but inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption. OCA markedly inhibits hepatic cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (
In this work, the possibility of a multiwavelength mode-locked fiber laser generation based on Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) induced by Fe2O3-SiO2 nanocomposite material is investigated for the first time. A multiwavelength mode-locked pulses fiber laser are generated from Ytterbium–doped fiber laser (YDFL) due to the combined action of high nonlinear absorption and high refractive coefficients of Fe2O3-SiO2 nanocomposite incorporated inside YDFL ring cavity. Up to more than 20 lasing lines in the 1040–1070 nm band with an equally lines separation of ~0.6 nm have been observed by just simple variation of passive modulation of the state of the polarization and the pump power altogether. Moreover, a passively mode-locked operation of YDFL laser
... Show MoreBackground: Satisfied caregivers are more likely to return for further care and to recommend the primary health care center services to others. Satisfied caregivers usually are compliant with the medical provider advice and the recommended treatment plan. Compliance will eventually lead to better health outcomes.
Method: A cross-sectional study with an analytic element was conducted during the period from the beginning of July to the end of September 2020. A convenient sample was collected from six primary health care centers in Al-Karkh side of Baghdad city where caregivers who attend those centers with their children for under
It is a common Knowledge that adverbs in Turkish languages can modify verbs, adjectives, nouns or other adverbs. Moreover, adverbs can determine the meanings of nouns and verbs in a sentence as far as time, place, manner, quantity and interrogative are concerned. The present study debates adverbs’ functions in Namiq Kamal’s play Vatan yahut Silistre.
The study sheds light on the author’s use of the adverbs to describe the required theatrical actions of the play and to convey his reflections and thoughts easily to the auidence. One of the main hindrances encountered in conducting the study is the shortage of the upto date academic resources necessary for
... Show MoreThe current research aimed at deducing the psychological contents of Suliman dialogue with the Hodhod and statement applications in school counseling. The researcher followed the Islamic approach in the search, which deals with the study of events, phenomena and practices through a broad understanding of Islamic principles and limitations associated with the general framework of Islam. In addition to the deductive approach is derived from a sub-rule is a general provision.
The research revealed many of the psychological contents, including: the importance of continuing care counselor psychological learners, and follow-up field to their problems, conditions, listen good horseshoe to defend himself, clarify the motives of his ac
In the present paper, new concepts of generalized continuous mappings, namely Еc and δ-ßc-continuous mappings have been introduced and studied by using a new generalized of open sets Еc and δ-ßc-open sets ,respectively. Several characterizations and fundamental properties of these forms of generalized continuous mappings are obtained. Moreover, the graphs of Еc-continuous and δ-ßc-continuous mappings have been investigated. In addition, the relationships among Еc-continuous and δ-ßc-continuous mappings and other well-known forms of g
... Show MoreThe study sheds lights on the simple verbal formulas with its particular time suffixes as found in the Turgut Özakman’s play These Crazy Turks.
The introduction of the study sheds light on the life of the author and playwright, as well as traces the different types of the verbal formulas in Turkish language.
Oh Those Young is one of the most significant products of the Turkish literature of the young and Children where the literary messages of the playwright are addressed in a simple comic sarcastic style. Hence, the play, that has been studied and acted by many students and academics, drives its importance from this particular course of action.
... Show MoreThe study aimed to explore the relationship between future anxiety and life orientation of male and female nurses, working in government hospitals of Gaza Strip governorates. The study sample consisted of 228 nurses (131 male nurses and97 female nurses. To achieve the study objectives , the researcher used the future anxiety scale, prepared by the researcher, and life orientation scale prepared by Scheier and Craver (1985 ) and translated into Arabic by Bader Al-Ansari . The results indicated that the level of future anxiety among nurses working at government hospitals was (64.85%), a high percentage, whereas life orientation was (65.96%), a low percentage. Additionally , the results showed that the Pearson correlation coefficient betwee
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